Throttle valve

Abstract

A multi-way valve adapted to control a flow of fluid to different thermal fluid circuits includes a valve housing, a valve flow controller, and a sealing system. The valve flow controller is arranged in the valve housing to control flow through the valve housing. The sealing system is configured to seal between the valve housing and the valve flow controller.

1 . A multi-way valve comprising
 a valve housing coupled to a manifold of thermal fluid circuits, the valve housing including a valve housing body and a housing end cover coupled to a first end of the valve housing body, the valve housing body shaped to define a valve cavity and a plurality of apertures that open into the valve cavity, and the housing end cover coupled to the first end of the valve housing to close an end opening to the valve cavity, and   a valve flow controller includes a valve rotor arranged in the valve cavity of the valve housing body and configured to rotate relative to the valve housing body about a valve axis and an actuator coupled to the valve rotor to drive rotation of the valve rotor about the valve axis,   wherein the valve rotor cooperates with the valve housing to define a plurality of flow paths when the valve rotor is rotated about the valve axis to a plurality of different predetermined positions to control a flow of fluid through the valve housing,   wherein the valve housing body includes an annular outer wall that extends around the valve axis to define the valve cavity, a housing base that extends from the annular outer wall and formed to define the plurality of apertures that extend radially through the housing base relative to the valve axis, and an end wall opposite the housing end cover formed to include an inlet aperture that extends axially through the end wall and opens into the valve cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-way valve of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet aperture extends circumferentially partway about the valve axis. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-way valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve rotor includes a valve rotor plate, a plurality of valve rotor walls that extend axially away from the valve rotor plate and spaced apart circumferentially to define a plurality of valve ports, and a valve shaft that extends axially from the valve rotor plate through the housing end cover of the valve housing to a terminal end located outside the housing end cover and coupled to the actuator, and wherein the valve rotor plate is formed to include a rotor through hole that extends axially through the valve rotor relative to the valve axis so that the flow of fluid is able to flow axially through the valve rotor parallel to the valve axis. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-way valve of  claim 3 , further comprising a sealing system configured to seal between the valve rotor and the valve housing body, the sealing system including a seal located in the inlet aperture formed in the end wall of the valve housing body to engage an axially facing surface of the valve rotor. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-way valve of  claim 4 , wherein the sealing system further includes biasing means for applying an axial force on the valve rotor to urge the valve rotor into engagement with the seal when the valve rotor is in one of the plurality of different predetermined positions to improve sealing between the valve rotor and the end wall of the valve housing body and for removing the axial force on the valve rotor to reduce friction between the valve rotor and the seal when the valve rotor is rotated about the valve axis from one position to another position included in the plurality of different predetermined positions. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-way valve of  claim 5 , wherein the biasing means includes cam ramps on an axially facing surface of the housing end cover of the valve housing and a plurality of cam surfaces on the valve rotor configured to engage the cam ramps on the housing end cover as the valve rotor rotates about the valve axis to the plurality of different predetermined positions. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-way valve of  claim 4 , wherein the seal comprises Teflon material. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-way valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing system configured to seal between the valve rotor and the valve housing body, the sealing system including a seal located in the inlet aperture formed in the end wall of the valve housing body to engage an axially facing surface of the valve rotor and a biasing assembly configured to selectively apply an axial force on the valve rotor to urge the valve rotor into engagement with the seal when the valve rotor is in one of the plurality of different predetermined positions to improve sealing between the valve rotor and the valve housing body. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-way valve of  claim 8 , wherein the biasing assembly includes cam ramps on an axially facing surface of the housing end cover of the valve housing and a plurality of cam surfaces on the valve rotor configured to engage the cam ramps on the housing end cover as the valve rotor rotates about the valve axis to the plurality of different predetermined positions. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-way valve of  claim 8 , wherein the seal comprises Teflon material. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-way valve of any one of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-way valve further comprises a sealing system configured to seal between the valve rotor and the valve housing body, the sealing system including a biasing assembly configured to selectively apply an axial force on the valve rotor to urge the valve rotor toward the valve rotor when the valve rotor is in one of the plurality of different predetermined positions to increase sealing between the valve rotor and the valve housing body. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-way valve of  claim 11 , wherein the biasing assembly includes cam ramps on an axially facing surface of the housing end cover of the valve housing and a plurality of cam surfaces on the valve rotor configured to engage the cam ramps on the housing end cover as the valve rotor rotates about the valve axis to the plurality of different predetermined positions. 
     
     
         13 . A multi-way valve comprising
 a valve housing including a valve housing body that extends axially along a valve axis and a housing end cover coupled to a first end of the valve housing body, the valve housing body shaped to define a valve cavity and a plurality of apertures that open into the valve cavity, and the housing end cover coupled to the first end of the valve housing to close an end opening to the valve cavity,   a valve flow controller includes a valve rotor arranged in the valve cavity of the valve housing body and configured to rotate relative to the valve housing body about the valve axis and an actuator coupled to the valve rotor to drive rotation of the valve rotor about the valve axis, and the valve rotor cooperates with the valve housing to define a plurality of flow paths when the valve rotor is rotated about the valve axis to a plurality of different predetermined positions to control a flow of fluid through the valve housing, and   a sealing system configured to seal between the valve rotor and the valve housing body, the sealing system including a biasing assembly configured to selectively apply an axial force on the valve rotor to urge the valve rotor away from the housing end cover when the valve rotor is in one of the plurality of different predetermined positions to increase sealing between the valve rotor and the valve housing body.   
     
     
         14 . The multi-way valve of  claim 13 , wherein the biasing assembly includes cam ramps on an axially facing surface of the valve housing and a plurality of cam surfaces on the valve rotor configured to engage the cam ramps on the valve housing as the valve rotor rotates about the valve axis to the plurality of different predetermined positions. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-way valve of  claim 13 , wherein the sealing system further includes a seal located axially between the valve rotor and the valve housing. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-way valve of  claim 15 , wherein the valve housing body includes an annular outer wall that extends around the valve axis to define the valve cavity, a housing base that extends from the annular outer wall and formed to define the plurality of apertures that extend radially through the housing base relative to the valve axis, and an end wall opposite the housing end cover formed to include an inlet aperture that opens into the valve cavity, and the seal is located in the inlet aperture formed in the end wall. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-way valve of  claim 13 , wherein the valve rotor includes a valve rotor plate, a plurality of valve rotor walls that extend axially away from the valve rotor plate and spaced apart circumferentially to define a plurality of valve ports, and a valve shaft that extends axially from the valve rotor plate through the housing end cover of the valve housing to a terminal end located outside the housing end cover and coupled to the actuator, and wherein the valve rotor plate is formed to include a rotor through hole that extends axially through the valve rotor relative to the valve axis so that the flow of fluid is able to flow axially through the valve rotor parallel to the valve axis. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-way valve of  claim 17 , wherein the biasing assembly includes cam ramps on an axially facing surface of the valve housing and a plurality of cam surfaces on each valve rotor walls of the plurality of valve rotor walls included in the valve rotor configured to engage the cam ramps on the valve housing as the valve rotor rotates about the valve axis to the plurality of different predetermined positions. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-way valve of  claim 18 , wherein the sealing system further includes a seal located axially between the valve rotor and the valve housing. 
     
     
         20 . A multi-way valve comprising
 a valve housing coupled to a manifold of thermal fluid circuits, the valve housing including a valve housing body and a housing end cover coupled to a first end of the valve housing body, the valve housing body shaped to define a valve cavity and a plurality of apertures that open into the valve cavity, and the housing end cover coupled to the first end of the valve housing to close an end opening to the valve cavity, and   a valve flow controller includes a valve rotor arranged in the valve cavity of the valve housing body and configured to rotate relative to the valve housing body about a valve axis and an actuator coupled to the valve rotor to drive rotation of the valve rotor about the valve axis, the valve rotor includes a valve rotor plate, a plurality of valve rotor walls that extend axially away from the valve rotor plate and spaced apart circumferentially to define a plurality of valve ports, and a valve shaft that extends axially from the valve rotor plate through the housing end cover of the valve housing to a terminal end located outside the housing end cover and coupled to the actuator,   wherein the valve rotor cooperates with the valve housing to define a plurality of flow paths when the valve rotor is rotated about the valve axis to a plurality of different predetermined positions to control a flow of fluid through the valve housing.   
     
     
         21 . The multi-way valve of  claim 20 , wherein the valve rotor plate is formed to include a rotor through hole that extends axially through the valve rotor relative to the valve axis so that the flow of fluid is able to flow axially through the valve rotor parallel to the valve axis. 
     
     
         22 . The multi-way valve of  claim 21 , wherein the rotor through hole extend circumferentially partway about the valve axis. 
     
     
         23 . The multi-way valve of  claim 22 , wherein the valve housing body includes an annular outer wall that extends around the valve axis to define the valve cavity, a housing base that extends from the annular outer wall and formed to define the plurality of apertures that extend radially through the housing base relative to the valve axis, and an end wall opposite the housing end cover formed to include an inlet aperture that extends axially through the end wall and opens into the valve cavity. 
     
     
         24 . The multi-way valve of  claim 23 , wherein the inlet aperture extends circumferentially partway about the valve axis.